Handline fishing, orhandlining, is afishing technique where a singlefishing line is held in the hands, rather than with afishing rod like the usualangling, of which handlining is a subtype. Handlining is not to be confused withhandfishing, which iscatching fish by hand. When handlining, one or morefishing lures orbaitedhooks are attached to the line, and afishing lure and often aweight and/or afishing float can also be attached to the line. Handlining is among the oldest forms of fishing and is still practiced throughout the world today.

Thefishing bait can be still fished,trolled orjigged up and down in a series of short movements. Often handling is done close to the bottom of the body of water but can also be done near or on the surface.

Ocean handlining is often used to catchgroundfish andsquid but other species are sometimes caught, includingpelagic fish. Sea handlining is a good way to catch larger oceanic fish.^{[citation needed]}

Handlining is also used for catchingfresh water fish.Panfish,walleyes, and other freshwatergame fish can be caught using handliningfishing techniques. Handlining can be practiced from theshore or from afishing boat. Walleye anglers practice handlining over moderately deep water in a drifting boat. Handlining is also practiced byice fishinganglers.^{[citation needed]}

Ajigging motion can be used to attract fish which are normally caught while trying to strike the lure but they can also be snagged by the hooks as they investigate the jigged lure. The lure can also be fished motionless and the angler feels for the bait to be picked up by a fish and then sets the hook after waiting for the fish to fully take the bait. After a strike occurs the hook is set and then the fish is hauled in and the caught fish is removed.^{[citation needed]}

• Fishing techniques
• Jigging
• Trolling (fishing)
• Crab lining

• Bjarnason, B A (1992)Handlining and squid jigging.FAO training series, No 23.ISBN 92-5-103100-2
• Handlining. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 21-Sep-2007.

• Fishing techniques and methods

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